Nuel Clenton Vandagriff

Aliases: Clent, Tex, DoeDoe

Nuel Clenton Vandagriff passed on July 17th, 2024. He was born on March 18, 1923, in Malakoff, Texas.  He was East Texas to his core, milking cows before school for $1/week, playing football (offense and defense) on the Malakoff football team, and then writing about the games for his high school paper.

When WWII began, Clent answered the call of duty and joined the Navy as a radioman on the LST 312. Before his departure, he was introduced to the love of his life, Betty Lou, on a blind date. Their hearts connected and they corresponded throughout the war.

Clent bravely served in three major invasions: Sicily, Salerno, and the unforgettable D-Day at Omaha Beach. After nearly four long years apart, Clent was finally granted leave to come home. As soon as he got back, he set out to find Betty Lou. At her home, Betty Lou’s mother told him he was too late. She was at a dance with Walter at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. Determined, he made his way to downtown Dallas to find his love.

As he neared the church, he saw Betty Lou descending the steps, deep in conversation with Walter. Clent approached them and gently took Betty Lou's hand, looked at Walter, and said “Betty Lou, we need to talk. Walter, can I drop you somewhere?”

Then, with Betty Lou by his side, they drove across the viaduct over the Trinity River. It was there, in the tenderness of that moment, that Clent asked her to marry him. A few days later, they exchanged vows, sealing their love in the bonds of matrimony.

After a short honeymoon in Virginia Beach, he was discharged from the Navy and they settled down in Dallas.  While they lived in Dallas, they had two children: Judy (Judy Bug) and Tim (Tim Boy).  Clent was working for Southern Electric Transmission at that time and was transferred to Rochester, NY when it was bought by Stromberg Carlson. Off the Texas family of four went to live in the great Northeast, learning more about snow than any Texan should.

Eventually, the family migrated back to Texas with a couple of stops in-between. Clenton and Betty Lou lived for several years in Ardmore, Oklahoma before retiring to Lake Kiowa, Texas.

Family times during their retirement years were filled with cookouts, yard games and long afternoons drinking tea on the patio telling stories.

Clenton and Betty Lou loved each other deeply. At their 50th wedding anniversary, when asked what their secret was, Betty Lou said “we always put each other first.”

Clent was a fine gentleman and father, Grandfather and great-grandfather he is deeply missed, but now he is with his true love Betty Lou waltzing on a cloud to the tune of the Tennessee Waltz.

He was Clent to his friends and family, Tex to his shipmates, DoeDoe to his grandchildren but he will always be Daddy to Judy Bug and Tim Boy, who have been by his side until the end.

Clent was preceded in death by his mother Crystal Arzella, father N.C. Vandagriff Sr., sister, Fern Yarborough, daughter-in-law, Georgia Vandagriff, and his beloved wife of 65 years, Betty Lou Vandagriff.

Clent is survived by his daughter, Judy VanDermeer and her husband David VanDermeer, son, Tim Vandagriff, granddaughters Stacy Robinson (husband Scott), Cindy Holcomb (husband Mike), and Dana Vandagriff, and great-children, Grace, Brady, and Molly Robinson, niece Diana Williamson, and nephew Lynn Yarborough.

Private services will be held at Restland Cemetery, Dallas, TX.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

https://www.nationalww2museum.org/give/ways-give

Please place flower orders directly through a local florist.

https://www.geojcarroll.com/florists